Storage box

ABSTRACT

A storage box includes a single sheet of material that, when folded to define the storage box comprises a bottom, side walls, and a flap hinged to one of the side walls. The flap includes a stacking tab that is movable between a use position in which the stacking tab protrudes through a mounting slot and a hidden position in which the stacking tab does not protrude from the storage box. The storage box allows the stacking tabs to be used only when necessary and not protruding from the storage box when not in use.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/071293, filed on Jul. 29, 2021, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to Application No. EP 20382723.3 filed on Aug. 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a storage box comprising stacking tabs that can be placed in a position of use or in a hidden position.

BACKGROUND

Boxes are known that are used to store objects. These boxes are normally made of cardboard and are normally formed from a sheet provided with a number of folding lines, in such a way that by an assembly process the box is obtained and is ready for use.

Stackable storage boxes usually comprise stacking tabs protruding from the box, which allow one or more boxes to be stacked together as the stacking tabs are housed in corresponding stacking slots located in the other box with which it is intended to stack. Usually each model has both stacking tabs and stacking slots, thus each box is a modular element that can be combined with other identical or similar compatible boxes.

In conventional storage boxes these stacking tabs are fixed, that is, they always protrude from the box, regardless of whether they are used or not. However, the permanent presence of the stacking tabs protruding from the box has the drawback that they can be accidentally damaged, so that when they are used, they may not be effective to allowing the stacking.

Therefore, an objective of the disclosed storage box is to allow the use of the stacking tabs only when necessary, not protruding from the box when they are not intended to be used.

SUMMARY

With the storage box disclosed herein, the aforementioned disadvantages are solved, presenting other advantages that will be described below.

The storage box according to the present disclosure is formed from a sheet, which is preferably of corrugated material, the corrugated material defining a plurality of channels parallel to each other, the box comprising side walls and a bottom, in which at least one of the side walls comprises a stacking tab, and it is characterized in that the stacking tab is mounted on a flap hinged to the at least one side wall and the stacking tab is movable between a position of use, in which it protrudes through a mounting slot located next to a folding line that delimits the at least one side wall, and a hidden position, in which it does not protrude from the body of the box.

In this manner, the stacking tab or tabs can be placed in their use position only when they are to be used, without accidentally damaging them when not in use.

Preferably, the storage box according to the present disclosure also comprises an upper wall, in the use position.

Advantageously, the storage box also has stacking slots, which serve to house the stacking tabs of another box that is the same or compatible so that the boxes are one on top of the other. In this manner, the two or more boxes stacked with each other are held allowing a more stable stacking, preventing the boxes from moving to each other.

Advantageously, two opposite side walls comprise the stacking tab and the stacking slot.

Furthermore, the stacking tab is advantageously mounted on the flap in an articulated manner, the stacking tab being able to be mounted on a middle portion of the flap or at one end of the flap.

According to a preferred implementation, the flap can comprise a projection that, in the hidden position of the stacking tab, is housed in the mounting slot of the side wall, in which case the stacking tab preferably comprises a cut-out area for forming the projection.

In one example, the flap may be hinged to the at least one side wall along a folding line inclined, perpendicular, or parallel with respect to the bottom of the box.

In another example, the flap can be hinged from a middle portion of the side wall, the stacking tab being hinged from the flap, so that in its hidden position it forms part of the side wall and in its uncovered position it is housed in the mounting slot.

Preferably, the stacking tab is substantially vertical in the use position, i.e., it is aligned or parallel with respect to the side wall.

Also preferably, the flap is substantially parallel with respect to the side wall to which it is hinged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For better understanding of what has been disclosed, some drawings in which, schematically and only by way of a non-limiting example, practical implementations are shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the box according to the present disclosure, according to a first example, with the flaps carrying the stacking tabs in their open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box according to the first example during the placement of the stacking tabs in their position of use, with an enlarged part to facilitate understanding;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of two boxes according to the first example, with the upper box with the stacking tab in its hidden position and with the lower box with the stacking tab in its use position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the box according to the present disclosure, according to a second example, with the flaps carrying the stacking tabs in their open position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the box according to the second example during the placement of the stacking tabs in their position of use, with an enlarged part to facilitate understanding;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the box according to the second example with the stacking tabs in their use position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the box according to the second example with the stacking tabs in their hidden position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of two boxes according to the second example, with the upper box with the stacking tab in its use position and with the lower box with the stacking tab in its hidden position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the box according to a third example with the stacking tab in the hidden position; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the box according to a third example with the stacking tab in the open position, with an enlarged portion in an intermediate step to show the transition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Firstly, it is indicated that the box according to the present disclosure is formed from a single sheet of material, preferably a corrugated material, such as corrugated cardboard, defining a plurality of channels substantially parallel to each other.

The box of the present disclosure may be used for storage of products, i.e., it requires strength characteristics to prevent the products from being damaged during the use of the box, which is also stackable.

A first example implementation of the box according to the present disclosure is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 .

According to this first example, the box is formed from a corrugated cardboard sheet that, in its mounting position, defines side walls 1 and a bottom 2. In the shown example, the side walls 1 are three, and an upper part or wall 9 is also present, so that a front opening is defined for access to the box, which means that the box is filled laterally.

In this position of use shown in the figures, the corrugated cardboard channels are arranged vertically or inclined, to provide adequate resistance to stacking.

According to this example, two flaps 4 extend from two opposite side walls 1, which in the position of use are placed on the internal part of the side walls 1, as can be seen in FIG. 3 . Each flap 4 is hinged to the respective side wall 1 about a folding line 8.

Furthermore, these flaps 4 also comprise reinforcing tabs 10, which are placed in contact with the other side wall 1 to reinforce the resistance to stacking. These reinforcing tabs 10 comprise projections 11 that keep each flap 4 slightly separated from, and substantially parallel to, the corresponding side wall 1.

Each of these flaps 4 further comprises a stacking tab or flange 3, which is hinged with respect to the flap 4, and which can be placed in a position of use or in a hidden position, as will be explained below.

As previously mentioned, it is precisely in the space between the flap 4 and the side wall 1 where the stacking tabs 3 are housed in their position of use; both those of the box itself and those of the same or compatible box that is stacked with the first one. The stacking tabs 3 of a box are housed in the space between the two surfaces of another similar or compatible box when inserted through stacking slots 5.2 conveniently located at the bottom of the box.

This stacking tab 3 is preferably arranged in a middle position near the top of the flap, according to the shown position of use, and it is hinged with respect to a substantially horizontal folding line, so that it can be placed in a position substantially vertical downwardly (FIG. 3 , upper box) or in a substantially vertical upwardly position (FIG. 3 , lower box).

In FIG. 2 it can be seen how the stacking tab 3 is placed in its upright position, or use position, protruding through a mounting slot 5 located in the upper part or wall 9 next to the upper edge of the corresponding side wall 1.

In order to place the stacking tab 3 in its position of use, firstly, the flaps 4 are folded into the box, and then the stacking tabs 3 are folded upwardly, entering the mounting slots 5.

In FIG. 3 two boxes are disclosed according to this first example are shown. The upper box is with the stacking tabs 3 in their hidden position, while the stacking tabs 3 are in their use position, allowing the upper box to be stacked using the stacking slots 5.2.

In FIGS. 4 to 8 , a second example of the box according to the present disclosure is shown.

For simplicity and clarity reasons, the same reference numbers are used to identify the same components of the box that were used in the previous example. In addition, only the differences with respect to the first example previously disclosed are described for the sake of simplicity.

The main difference of this second example is the position of the stacking tabs 3, which are arranged at the end of the flaps 4, and are oriented downwardly, so that in their position of use they protrude from the lower portion of the box.

As can be seen in FIG. 4 , the flaps 4 have a shape defined by two portions, a proximal portion that is extended in a hinged way from the folding line 8, the in this example is inclined, of the front of the box, and a distal portion provided with the stacking tab 3 at its end.

The stacking tab 3 forms a cut-out area 7, defining a projection 6, which is housed in the mounting slot 5 of the box in the hidden position of the stacking tab 3, as will be described below. In this example, the mounting slot 5 is located at the bottom 2.

The box of this second example also comprises a frontal flap 12 provided with a longitudinal folding line 13 that divides it in two, so that, in its use position, it forms a double-thickness front wall, as shown in FIG. 8 , with reinforcing plates 16. For fastening, this frontal flap 12 comprises projections 14 that are housed in complementary slots 15 arranged on the frontal edge of the bottom 2.

For the placement of the stacking tabs 3 in their position of use, the flaps 4 are folded towards the inside of the box (FIG. 5 ), the stacking tabs 3 being inserted in the mounting slots 5 in the side edges of the bottom 2 of the box (FIG. 6 ), the stacking tabs 3 protruding on the lower portion for their coupling with a lower box, with is the same as the first one or compatible with the first one, which has corresponding stacking slots 5.2 located on the side edges of the upper part or wall 9.

For the placement of the stacking tabs 3 in their hidden position, the flaps 4 are also folded towards the inside of the box (FIG. 5 ), the projections 6 being inserted in the mounting slots 5 in the side edges of the bottom 2 of the box (FIG. 7 ), locking the flaps 4 in their position substantially in contact with, i.e., substantially parallel to, the side walls 1.

In FIG. 8 , two boxes according to this second example are shown, with the stacking tabs 3 in their use position in the upper box and in their hidden position in the lower box.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 , a third example of the box according to the present disclosure is shown.

For simplicity and clarity reasons, the same reference numbers are used to identify the same components of the box that were used in the previous examples. In addition, only the differences with respect to the first example previously disclosed are described for the sake of simplicity.

The main difference of this third example with respect to the first example is that the flaps 4 are hinged from a middle portion of the side wall 1, the stacking tabs 3 being arranged at the end of the flaps 4.

To place the stacking tab 3 in its position of use, firstly, the flaps 4 are folded upwardly, as shown in the detail of FIG. 10 , and then the stacking tabs 3 are folded upwardly, being inserted inside the mounting slots 5.

Although reference has been made to specific examples, it is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the described storage box is susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage box, comprising: a single sheet of material that, when folded to define the storage box comprises: a bottom; side walls; and a flap hinged to one of the side walls, the flap comprising a stacking tab that is movable between a use position in which the stacking tab protrudes through a mounting slot of the storage box and a hidden position in which the stacking tab does not protrude from the storage box.
 2. The storage box of claim 1, further comprising an upper part in the use position.
 3. The storage box of claim 1, wherein the flap is a first flap hinged to a first side wall of the side walls, the stacking tab is a first stacking tab, and the side walls include a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, the storage box further comprising: a second flap hinged to the second side wall, the second flap comprising a second stacking tab.
 4. The storage box of claim 3, wherein the first and second stacking tabs are mounted on a middle portion of the first and second flaps, respectively.
 5. The storage box of claim 4, wherein the first and second stacking tabs are mounted on one end of the first and second flaps, respectively.
 6. The storage box of claim 1, wherein the flap comprises a projection that, in the hidden position, is housed in the mounting slot.
 7. The storage box of claim 6, wherein the stacking tab comprises a cut-out area to form a protrusion.
 8. The storage box of claim 1, wherein the flap is hinged to the one of the side walls along a folding line, the folding line being inclined, perpendicular, or parallel with respect to the bottom.
 9. The storage box of claim 1, further comprising stacking slots to house stacking tabs of another storage box.
 10. The storage box of claim 1, wherein the single sheet of material comprises a corrugated material defining a plurality of channels parallel to each other.
 11. The storage box of claim 10, wherein the channels of the corrugated material are arranged vertically or inclined on the side walls in the use position.
 12. The storage box of claim 1, wherein the stacking tab extends substantially vertically in the use position.
 13. The storage box of claim 1, wherein, in the use position, the flap extends substantially parallel with respect to the one of the side walls. 